Prior to receiving the Volunteers' offer, Dews was only holding scholarships from lesser-known programs such as Delaware, Hampton, James Madison, Robert Morris, St. Francis and Temple.

"For them to be an SEC school and take that chance on me with me having no other big offers shows they're nothing but real people," he told the Washington Post. "They don't care about publicity and all that stuff, the politics. They like me, and they don't care about none of that other stuff."

Dews continued, "Man, I love everything about Tennessee. I just love the coaches. You don't usually fall in love that quick. It's crazy. I can't even explain how happy I am."

Last season, he recorded 14 sacks and caught 15 passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns.